Kyle Pitts is easily the most talented player to enter the NFL as a tight end since his former teammate at Florida, Aaron Hernandez. He’s set on making powerful advances this year. Pitts has played with a varying cornucopia of changes at the quarterback position during his career. He has shown great chemistry, especially at the end of the 2024 season, with Michael Penix Jr. A huge touchdown swap with the Washington Commanders in Week 17 exposed their rapport. Penix Jr. found Pitts in the end zone, deftly threading a beautiful fourth down completion through defenders. This astounding play brought the game even and launched it into double overtime.
Pitts has had the hard fortune of facing such a perfect storm at various points throughout his career. The guys had to manage through Matt Ryan, Marcus Mariota, Desmond Ridder, Taylor Heinicke, Kirk Cousins, and now of course Penix Jr. Each player has brought their own style and strengths to the field, but it appears that the duo of Pitts and Penix Jr. has developed a promising rapport. Their off-field relationship has blossomed through shared interests, particularly golf, which has become a way for them to bond outside of rigorous training sessions.
Pitts underscored how valuable their time on the golf course is. It allows them to relax and build their partnership in a new way.
“Most of the time we go out early, so it’s just me, him and [kicker Younghoe] Koo, and maybe a couple of other guys,” said Pitts. “We’re just playing fast and just enjoying the time.”
Not only has the camaraderie they’ve built on the golfing greens led to improved chemistry on the field, vice versa as well.
“I feel like our connection is great, not just what we’ve been doing so far on the field, but off the field as well because of that,” Penix Jr. explained.
That relaxation, paired with golfing’s meditative qualities, makes the sport an ideal counterpoint to their 24/7 football training regime. Pitts stated how thankful he is for these experiences outside the game.
“Just like how you say, not thinking about football,” he added. “So that’s a big thing for us, just hearing the birds chirp and playing music and talking about everything but football.”
Penix Jr. after being introduced to the sport by Pitts. So much so that when he meets with them, their conversation inevitably ends back up on the topic of football.
“And each and every day, even when we’re golfing, we talk football, too, every now and then,” he said. “Just talking about different plays, different routes and stuff like that.”
Pitts’ golf game has been improving as well, as shown by his recent purchase of new clubs. With them on the Falcons’ golf cart course has been new passing game coordinator TJ Yates. He jokingly took credit for their talent.
“Gonna be a lot of that,” Penix Jr. remarked when discussing their golfing escapades.
Yates jokingly distinguished both Pitts and Penix Jr. as “awful golfers.” He said, for them, golf is not about making a par—it’s an opportunity to connect and spend time with one another.
With 2025 marking Pitts’ contract year, there is added motivation for him to excel both on the golf course and on the field. His rookie year in 2021, he made a Pro Bowl. Now, as he learns still more from other QBs with new offensive coaches and a new scheme, the sky is the limit.
Pitts and Penix Jr. have certainly developed a connection that transcends shared zodiac signs. This connection is key as they prepare for the 2023 season.
“Honestly, he just started and he’s got something that you can’t teach, which is speed,” remarked Younghoe Koo when reflecting on Penix Jr.’s potential impact on the team.
Kyle Pitts and Michael Penix Jr. will have to develop some immediate chemistry. Their chemistry will be a huge factor in their success on the field. It’s their off-field interactions, a spark for so much more, that have created this truly inspiring partnership. We hope this new partnership facilitates great successes for each player.
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